What businesses should know about consent rules when calling consumers

Rules around obtaining consumer consent before calling or texting are in a state of legal and regulatory uncertainty – and companies should remain cautious.

By Melanie Senosiain and Traci Rollins • Feb. 19, 2025

Federal judge sides with Biden Labor Dept. on ESG fiduciary rule

A Texas Northern District Court judge said the rule is still valid under Loper Bright and does not violate the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 18, 2025

Comcast-NBCUniversal faces FCC probe over ‘invidious’ DEI policies

The agency’s new chairman says he’s concerned the cable TV, network and theme park operator continues to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 13, 2025

Trump pauses DOJ enforcement of law banning bribes to foreign officials

The administration says the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is overenforced and harms U.S. companies’ competitiveness against international rivals.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 11, 2025

It’s not just workplace raids. Mishandled electronic I-9s could be a costly immigration threat for employers under Trump.

A group of legal experts is sounding the alarm that noncompliant electronic Form I-9 vendors could put unsuspecting employers at risk.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 3, 2025

Trump’s softer-touch SEC may ease CFO regulatory burden

By slimming the SEC’s budget, headcount and regulatory scope, a new agency chief would fall in step with Trump’s cost-cutting and efficiency campaign.

By Jim Tyson • Jan. 30, 2025

Internal AI controls called key even if Trump DOJ downplays them

Trends point to more AI regulation, so even if the new administration takes a light touch, there are other laws and plenty of lawsuits that require companies to keep their tech in check.  

By Ramona Dzinkowski • Jan. 22, 2025

How risk mitigation can power strategic business success

With the right tools, the compliance team can bring insight to the table that can do more than keep an organization out of trouble; it can open the door to growth opportunities.   

By Vicky LeVay • Jan. 21, 2025

In a gift to DOGE, lawmaker wants antitrust enforcement consolidated under DOJ

It’s inefficient for DOJ to share duties with the FTC, it leads to interagency conflict and makes it harder for companies to know what standard to follow, critics say.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 16, 2025

Shift4 makes $4.7M in undisclosed payments to executives’ relatives

The payments were made over a three-year period beginning in 2020, and were not listed in some filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, the company agreed to pay a fine under a settlement last week.

By Patrick Cooley • Jan. 16, 2025

SEC fines firms $63M in latest effort to stop off-channel communications

One company will pay a reduced fine for coming forward on its own, the agency says.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 14, 2025

SEC fines ex-CEO for keeping WWE in dark on settlements

The wrestling company’s books and filings were inaccurate because its former chief never told the legal and accounting teams about harassment claims he settled, the agency said. 

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 13, 2025

Oil companies agree to record FTC settlement in ‘gun-jumping’ lawsuit

The agency accused two oil producers of taking over management duties of a company they’d agreed to buy during the required U.S. review period for merger deals.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 8, 2025

JetBlue whacked with $2M federal fine over delay-ridden flights

The civil penalty marks the first time U.S. transport regulators have targeted “chronically delayed” flights amid Biden DOT’s push for consumer protections.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 6, 2025

Little partisan difference among commissioners in FTC enforcement

Members appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents tend to agree when the agency should file a complaint against a proposed merger, an analysis finds.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 3, 2025

FTC excludes restaurants from junk fee rule

In another regulatory victory for restaurants, the Federal Trade Commission backtracked on including restaurant fees in its price transparency rule.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 19, 2024

FTC cracks down on junk fees

The bipartisan Junk Fees Rule takes aim at “bait-and-switch pricing” for lodging, as well as live-ticket events.

By Noelle Mateer • Dec. 17, 2024

SEC charges former Comtech CEO with insider trading

The charges against Ken Peterman are just the latest initiative by what, in some respects, has been the most aggressive SEC enforcement division on record.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 12, 2024

Ex-TD employee charged in money laundering case

Leonardo Ayala, 24, issued dozens of debit cards linked to accounts opened by another TD employee in the names of shell companies, and received bribes for that work, the Justice Department alleged.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 11, 2024

Compliance ranking tags Singapore as easiest, North America least costly

The Asian city-state was most efficient and reasonably priced in 2024, followed by the U.K. and Australia, while Brazil and the UAE ranked low, according to a Mercator report.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 11, 2024

Biotech startup avoids SEC penalties through voluntary self-report

Cancer drug maker Kiromic was charged with omitting FDA regulators’ concerns about two of its therapies as it sought to raise $40 million from investors.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 4, 2024

How to prepare for Trump’s new immigration policies

In light of potential deportation actions, lawyers recommend internal I-9 audits to ensure the work authorization status of employees.

By Zachary Phillips • Dec. 4, 2024

SEC settles ransomware case against ICBC unit

The agency opted not to impose a fine on the U.S. unit of China's largest bank, which had difficulty updating system books and records after a 2023 cyberattack.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Dec. 3, 2024

Macy’s says accountant hid as much as $154M in expenses

The deliberately misleading accounting of expenses since the fourth quarter of 2021 did not disrupt cash management or vendor payments, Macy’s said.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 26, 2024

SEC reports drop in enforcement actions for 2024 FY

The securities regulator also reported a record $8.2 billion in monetary remedies for its last fiscal year, driven by Terraform Labs crypto fraud settlement.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 25, 2024